In this clinical course, students examine, develop, implement and evaluate a variety of strategies to teach reading and writing in content areas. Additionally, they examine the critical role that all teachers play in developing literacy and thinking.

This clinical course provides preparation for teaching literacy and critical thinking in the middle and secondary grades. The focus is on planning, selecting, and using research -based strategies for reading and writing instruction, assessment, and evaluation of student study skills also are emphasized. This will include application of a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate a variety of texts. Strategies for teaching linguistically and culturally diverse students will be explored. In addition, state and national standards in reading and language arts will be used to construct units and lessons.

This course is the first of a two semester practicum sequence in which students gain meaningful work experience and apply knowledge from previous coursework. The student works with a school-based literacy team to conduct a needs-assessment, prepares guidelines for selection of materials, develops a 2-year plan consistent with current research, and conducts in-service training. This course follows the K-12 academic calendar.

This culminating experience is the second semester of a two course, practicum sequence in which students gain meaningful work experience and apply knowledge from previous coursework. This capstone course builds upon the previous practicum, refines understanding and requires the learner to apply the essential competencies of a reading specialist and to evaluate his or her performance and progress. This course follows the K-12 academic calendar.